Named after Henry Ford’s Dearborn property, at the moment’s Good Value or No Cube Fairlane wagon is a mannequin of automotive that after dominated suburbia. Now, a lot rarer, we’ll need to see how domineering its value seems.
Within the Nineteen Seventies, British Leyland was the automotive equal of public housing, with disparate marques and fashions thrown collectively and instructed to get alongside. The 1980 Triumph TR8 we checked out yesterday was one of many outcomes of such an upbringing, and whereas age and what seems to be some cautious curation ensured our candidate TR8 was not with out its charms, these charms didn’t lengthen to its $13,500 asking value. That failed to seek out favor amongst most of you, managing to muster nothing higher than a 57 % No Cube loss.
Talking of public housing, right here within the U.S., many have been the results of the Housing Act of 1949. That was a bit of laws signed into legislation by then president Harry S. Truman, the intent of which was to handle the housing disaster afflicting the nation following the dual whammies of the Nice Despair and WWII.
The growth in building engendered by the Housing Act prolonged exterior of cities as effectively, creating what we all know at the moment because the huge suburban sprawl that encircles most main metropolitan enclaves. These suburbs, in flip, gave rise in recognition for a specific model of car: the station wagon.
This 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 is the suburban station wagon in almost its peak type. I say almost as a result of it’s lacking one essential factor: a fold-in-the-floor third-row set of seats.
Moreover that besmirchment, it’s acquired the products. In keeping with the advert, it options manufacturing unit energy steering and brakes, non-compulsory A/C, and a two-barrel 289 Challenger V8 beneath the hood. That Windsor mill made a factory-claimed 200 (gross) horsepower and is paired with a regular Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automated transmission.
Different plusses embody the intelligent “Magic Doorgate” within the again, which permits for load space entry by both folding or swinging, together with a set of good-looking Styled Metal wheels wrapped in new Cooper tires.
Per the advert, the whole lot works because it ought to, save for the A/C, which, being old-school, would doubtless have to be changed and up to date anyway. The automotive has an older respray in metallic gold, and that appears to be, at greatest, a 10-foot job. The vendor helpfully factors out within the advert the areas the place the paint is popping, or prep work for the shoot wasn’t correctly executed. These aesthetic points ought to in all probability be tackled finally, however total, the automotive seems stable and never in want of something quick.
Issues are higher within the capacious cabin. The upholstery just isn’t authentic, however the velour and vinyl seat covers are clear and tidy and do the job of matching the colour of the door playing cards. Carpet and period-correct rubber flooring mats adorn the footwells.
It seems that the automotive’s authentic exterior coloration was cream-white, as evidenced by the dashboard and effectively within the again. The present gold coloration is a little more interesting, however ought to a brand new proprietor want to repair the paint, there’s at all times the choice to return to that manufacturing unit hue. Properly, the automotive nonetheless wears its black and gold California license plates, which solely add to its throw-back enchantment.
The advert notes that the odometer has rolled over and now reads 100,819 miles. That’s not too unhealthy, and neither is the clear title, which suggests this Fairlane needs to be pretty simple to re-register in a brand new proprietor’s identify. To take action, nonetheless, there’s the small matter of the automotive’s $17,950 asking value.
What do you concentrate on this former suburban stalwart asking that a lot money? Does that appear honest, given the automotive’s situation and enchantment? Or is that an excessive amount of to show again the clock?
You determine!
Seattle, Washington, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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